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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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Scandal Rocks Oral Roberts U.

Ex-professors' lawsuit details financial abuses by president

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(Newser) – Oral Roberts University is embroiled in allegations of financial misdeeds by president Richard Roberts, who stands accused of going on spending sprees with donors' money and illegally using university resources to aid a political campaign, the AP reports. Three former professors who filed suit this week say they were fired for attempting to expose the indulgences.

The suit accuses Roberts, son of the school's founder, of using university funds to remodel his house 11 times in the past 14 years. The ex-professors say he bought his wife tens of thousands of dollars' worth of clothing, provided her with a Lexus SUV and Mercedes convertible, and used the university jet for his daughter's vacation.

Dr. John Swails, left, Attorney Gary Richardson, center, and Dr. Tim Brooker answer questions during a news conference announcing their suit against Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla., in this Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007, file photo. Oral Roberts University President Richard Roberts, says God is speaking again, telling him to...
Dr. John Swails, left, Attorney Gary Richardson, center, and Dr. Tim Brooker answer questions during a news conference announcing their suit against Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla., in this Tuesday,...   (Associated Press)
A campus security car stops below the large praying hands at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla. on Friday, Oct. 5, 2007. Oral Roberts University President Richard Roberts, says God is speaking again, telling him to deny lurid allegations in a lawsuit that threatens to engulf this 44-year-old Bible Belt...
A campus security car stops below the large praying hands at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla. on Friday, Oct. 5, 2007. Oral Roberts University President Richard Roberts, says God is speaking again,...   (Associated Press)
Richard Roberts, president and chief executive officer of Oral Roberts University, is shown in Tulsa, Okla, in this Sept. 30, 2004, file photo. Responding Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007, to a lawsuit filed against him and the private Christian school, Roberts said God spoke to him and told him to say...
Richard Roberts, president and chief executive officer of Oral Roberts University, is shown in Tulsa, Okla, in this Sept. 30, 2004, file photo. Responding Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007, to a lawsuit filed...   (Associated Press)
A campus security car stops below the large praying hands at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla. on Friday, Oct. 5, 2007. Oral Roberts University President Richard Roberts, says God is speaking again, telling him to deny lurid allegations in a lawsuit that threatens to engulf this 44-year-old Bible Belt...
A campus security car stops below the large praying hands at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla. on Friday, Oct. 5, 2007. Oral Roberts University President Richard Roberts, says God is speaking again,...   (Associated Press)
Richard Roberts, president and chief executive officer of Oral Roberts University, is shown in Tulsa, Okla, in this Sept. 30, 2004, file photo. Responding Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007, to a lawsuit filed against him and the private Christian school, Roberts said God spoke to him and told him to say...
Richard Roberts, president and chief executive officer of Oral Roberts University, is shown in Tulsa, Okla, in this Sept. 30, 2004, file photo. Responding Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007, to a lawsuit filed...   (Associated Press)
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Local coverage

Details of the lawsuit, which alleges wrongful termination
Tulsa World

Richard Roberts fires back
Tulsa World

Accusations also include requiring students to do campaign work
Tulsa World


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